Bitcoin news

Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) completed its first month with $194 million in net inflows and no daily net outflows, a record no rival spot bitcoin ETF achieved. Launched on April 8, it saw $30.6 million in inflows on day one, with Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas ranking it in the top 1% of all ETF launches. Despite tapering inflows, the fund never dipped below zero, while the broader spot Bitcoin ETF market saw significant swings. MSBT's 0.14% annual fee is the lowest among U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs. Nearly all inflows came from self-directed clients; the fund has not yet opened to advisors managing over $9.3 trillion in assets. Once available on Morgan Stanley's advisory platform, it could gain a unique distribution advantage. Balchunas projects MSBT could reach $5 billion in assets in its first year.

Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy, signaled on Sunday that the Bitcoin treasury company will resume BTC purchases, posting "Back to work, BTC" on X. This follows the company's Q1 2026 earnings call on Tuesday, where Saylor said the company may periodically sell portions of its Bitcoin holdings to fund dividends for credit instrument holders, a shift from its previous stance of never selling. The announcement drew mixed reactions, with some arguing that periodic sales will be accretive for the company's treasury, while others warned of a potential "doom loop" suppressing Bitcoin's price. Strategy CEO Phong Le clarified that sales would be limited to specific instances and that the company's $1.5 billion in annual dividend payments are easily absorbed by Bitcoin's daily trading volume of over $60 billion.

Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF (MSBT) completed its first trading month with zero net outflows, attracting about $193 million in inflows and managing over $240 million in assets. The fund saw 17 days of positive inflows and five flat days, with no daily redemptions, distinguishing it from other spot Bitcoin ETFs that experienced outflows during the same period. MSBT's resilience is attributed to Morgan Stanley's brand trust and low fee structure—a 0.14% sponsor fee, the lowest among spot Bitcoin ETPs. The bank's wealth-management network, with 16,000 advisors and $9.3 trillion in client assets, provides a strong distribution channel for long-term institutional allocations. The fund's launch coincided with a broader recovery in Bitcoin ETF demand. U.S. spot Bitcoin funds recorded over $3 billion in net inflows over six consecutive weeks through May 8, the longest streak since last summer, indicating steady long-term capital inflows.

The article assesses whether Donald Trump has been net positive for Bitcoin, concluding the answer is conditional. Trump moved Bitcoin closer to U.S. government recognition through executive orders endorsing public blockchains and creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, lowering the risk of a federal ban. However, price action is mixed, with Bitcoin up 20% from election day but down from inauguration and reserve order anchors. Public trust remains weak, with only 14% of U.S. adults owning crypto, and on-chain activity shows no grassroots adoption boom. Trump-linked crypto businesses also create reputation risks. The author argues Trump has been positive for institutional access and political permission, but not yet for durable law, public confidence, or organic network use.

MicroStrategy CEO Phong Le confirmed the firm will sell Bitcoin only under specific conditions, including to fund dividends from its Stretch preferred stock if accretive to shareholders, and for tax management. The shift from Michael Saylor's 'never sell' stance was signaled in Q1 2026 earnings, with Le framing it as a pragmatic calculation. Le downplayed market impact concerns, noting Bitcoin's daily trading volume of $60 billion dwarfs the $1.5 billion annual dividend obligation. MicroStrategy holds 818,334 BTC acquired at ~$75,537 per coin, with manageable leverage of 10-15%.

Bitcoin may face a pullback toward $70,000 as the Cleveland Fed projects April headline CPI to rise to 3.56% year over year, up from 3.3% in March. A firmer inflation reading could reinforce expectations that the Fed will delay rate cuts, pressuring risk assets like Bitcoin. Support from institutional buyers has weakened after Strategy paused its BTC purchases. A rising wedge pattern on daily charts suggests a downside target near $70,000, though a break above $84,000 could invalidate the bearish setup and lead to gains toward $90,000–$95,000.

Seven major Bitcoin mining pools, including AntPool and Foundry, joined the Stratum V2 working group to develop an open standard for mining pool communication. The initiative aims to reduce block mining delays and decentralize the increasingly centralized mining industry. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's mining difficulty is projected to rise in May 2026, adding pressure on miners already facing soaring energy costs. CoinShares reports that up to 20% of miners may be unprofitable under current conditions.

Strategy CEO Phong Le stated during a CNBC interview that the company will only sell Bitcoin to pay dividends on its Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock or offset taxes, and only if such sales are accretive to shareholders' BTC per share. This follows co-founder Michael Saylor's earlier comments that Strategy might sell Bitcoin periodically, which raised market concerns. Le downplayed the impact, noting Bitcoin's daily trading volume of $60 billion can absorb the $1 billion in annual dividends owed. Strategy holds 818,334 BTC, valued at over $66 billion, making it the largest publicly traded Bitcoin treasury company.

Trump Media & Technology Group reported a Q1 net loss of $405.9 million, widening from $31.7 million a year earlier, due to unrealized losses on cryptocurrency holdings. Revenue rose 6% to $871,200. The company recorded $244 million in unrealized crypto losses and a $108.2 million investment loss. It held 9,542 bitcoin (cost basis $1.13B, fair value $647.1M) and 756.1 million CRO (cost basis $113.9M, fair value $53M) as of March end. Trump Media generated $17.9 million in operating cash flow from options trading on pledged bitcoin. A portion of its bitcoin is collateral for convertible notes and covered call options.

New South Wales Police seized 52.3 Bitcoin, worth over $4.2 million, during raids on May 4 in Ingleburn, Australia. The seizure is linked to a suspected darknet marketplace operator, according to Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, who called it one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in the nation's history. A 39-year-old man was charged with failing to comply with a digital evidence access order, money laundering, and drug supply. A 41-year-old man faces charges for allegedly transferring the cryptocurrency. The investigation, Strike Force Andalusia, began in September 2024 after police identified a cryptocurrency wallet linked to darknet proceeds. Authorities emphasized that darknet criminals are not beyond reach, as law enforcement advances in tracing blockchain transactions. The seizure reflects Australia's growing focus on cryptocurrency enforcement.